Origin
Austin, AR
Morning in Austin on Sunday
Local time
9:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Austin, AR to Benton, AR
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
59m
Distance
51.2 mi
82 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 9m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Austin, AR
Elsie Soto
Benton, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Austin, AR to Benton, AR is 51.2 miles and takes about 59 minutes via I 57, I 30, and US 167, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive entirely within Arkansas, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Given its short duration and highway focus, it's an ideal trip for a single day, perfect for a quick commute or a short hop between towns without needing an overnight stay. You'll spend most of your time on major roadways, making it a practical and efficient journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 57 | 21.6 mi | 22m |
| I 30 | 20.8 mi | 23m |
| US 167 | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| AR 35 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| I 40 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| AR 305 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| I-30 Frontage Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Old Hot Springs Highway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 21.6 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Austin, AR and Benton, AR.
1
Start on this road
219 ft
·
17 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto AR 367
82 ft
·
1 sec
·
AR 367
3
Turn left onto AR 305
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
AR 305
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
5
Merge onto I 57; US 167
22 mi
·
22 min
·
I 57; US 167
6
Merge onto I 40; US 167
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 40; US 167
7
Take the exit onto US 167
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
US 167
Toward I 30 West, US 65 South, US 67 South, US 167 South: Little Rock
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 30; US 67
21 mi
·
23 min
·
I 30; US 67
Exit 138
Toward Texarkana
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
Toward AR 5, AR 35: Benton
10
Turn straight onto AR 5
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
I-30 Frontage Road
11
Turn slight right onto AR 5
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Old Hot Springs Highway
12
Turn left onto AR 35
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
AR 35
13
Turn right onto East Sevier Street
383 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Sevier Street
14
Turn right onto North Main Street
14 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Main Street
15
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.6 miles from Austin, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 51.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
AR 367
At end of road, turn right onto AR 367
Navigation decision point
5
23.7 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
US 167
Take the exit onto US 167 toward I 30 West, US 65 South, US 67 South, US 167 South: Little Rock
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 30 West, US 65 South, US 67 South, US...
8
28.5 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
I 30; US 67
Keep slight right at fork onto I 30; US 67 toward Texarkana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 138
Toward Texarkana
5
49.4 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward AR 5, AR 35: Benton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward AR 5, AR 35: Benton
5
51.2 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
North Main Street
Turn right onto North Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.73 one way
$15.46 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $8.49 | $16.98 |
| premium | $4.56 | $9.19 | $18.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.30 | $22.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.38 | $2.46 |
| Efficient EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.48 | $2.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.5 | 0 | $7.17 | $3.28 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Benton, AR
Morning in Benton on Sunday
Local time
9:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
59m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is almost entirely highway, with 98% of the drive taking place on major roads like I 57, I 30, and US 167. Expect a highway-focused experience for the full 59 minutes. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 21.6 miles on I 57, offering a consistent pace. The character of the drive remains largely the same throughout, emphasizing efficiency and direct travel over varied scenery or winding local roads.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.6 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and I 30. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near AR 367.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.2 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AR 367): Navigation decision point; at 23.7 miles (US 167): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.5 miles (I 30; US 67): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Austin, AR to Benton, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Texarkana along the way.
Texarkana
28.5 mi in
|
~32m
|
via I 30; US 67
About the Cities
Arriving in Benton, AR
Full guide →Benton is in the Central region of Arkansas.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 59m. Total distance: 51.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.6 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Benton, AR before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AR 367): Navigation decision point; at 23.7 miles (US 167): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.5 miles (I 30; US 67): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Benton, AR before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Benton, AR
More trips to Benton, AR
Explore more options from Austin, AR or browse trips ending in Benton, AR.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AR road trips.